COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Educators spend a great deal of time talking about the importance of attitude, but how much time do we as educators spend teaching and helping our students understand how to live life with a positive attitude? 

JPS workshops are designed for educators to learn how to build character in their students, implement character programs in their schools, reflect on why they became educators, and become inspired to promote positive attitudes and relationships in their schools. 

Each course is graduate-level and accredited by Colorado State University Pueblo. Students can earn up to three graduate credits in each class while learning unique ways to implement character education into their classrooms, offices, sports teams, or extra-curricular activities. Please click on each class to view a PDF of the class syllabus.

CLASS 1 - TEACHING POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO STUDENTS

This class is for all educators and will stress the implementation of the "Character Card" system, a proven method for improving the attitude and character of students. This hands-on class will challenge participants to develop their own plans for character development.

CLASS 2 - BUILDING A CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM

Character Educator Jim Place will present his nationally recognized “Character Day,” used by hundreds of school districts to create a more accepting and positive school culture. This award-winning character program challenges educators and students to share more about themselves with the goal of deepening connections and. The goal is to build better relationships among students and staff. Educators will experience activities from the day as well as have a clear step-by-step guide to plan one of these events for their school.

CLASS 3 - SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM

Award-winning classroom teachers will share their proven methods for improving the attitude and character of students. This class offers a variety of speakers who are recognized in their district as having authentic lessons and programs that promote the social and emotional standards in their curriculum.

CLASS 5 - ARE YOU A CHARACTER EDUCATOR? EDUCATOR IN-SERVICE

This class is offered as an in-service program where educators can earn graduate credits by attending the Jim Place Character Education program, reading Jim Place’s book “Are You A Character Educator,” and completing follow up assignments.

CLASS 6 - BULLYING PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN YOUR CLASSROOM

This class focuses on strategies and plans that have successfully worked in various districts throughout the state of Ohio to build a more positive school climate and decrease bullying. Nationally-known speakers will define types of bullying behavior as well as practical and useful strategies to be proactive to prevent it in the classroom.

CLASS 7 - REACHING AND TEACHING STUDENTS FROM LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

This class will provide participants with tools to help close the inequity gap between students in the classroom, namely those from low economic backgrounds. In order to address the needs of this population, class participants will discover programs and strategies to implement into their classrooms.

CLASS 8 - SERVICE LEARNING EXAMPLES FOR THE CLASSROOM

This class focuses on implementing service-learning practices in the K-12 classroom. Participants will analyze the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice and will develop a plan for incorporating a service lesson in their classrooms or schools.

CLASS 10 - RESPONSIBLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

This class will focus on how technology (phones/screens, games, social media) is affecting our students and how educators can help students use technology in positive, ethical, smart, and safe ways. We will review the main topics of digital citizenship, current laws, research, news topics and best practices. The goal of this class is for educators to develop techniques to aid students in proactively creating their own positive digital footprints – to respect, educate and protect themselves and others.

CLASS 11 -Social Emotional Learning: Teacher to Teacher

This class allows students to pick presentations to watch that best fit their educational needs. The presenters include fellow classroom teachers who have implemented a character education lesson or strategy that they learned from a past Jim Place Services class. The presentations are concise and give educators the tool needed to implement a new social and emotional learning strategy in their classroom, immediately.

CLASS 12 - MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS

This class will feature presentations from various professionals in the mental health and education field. The range of information from varying professionals will provide background knowledge on mental health, at-risk youth for suicide, depression in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as practical strategies and tools to use in educational settings.

CLASS 13 - CREATING YOUR OWN PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING

This class offers a variety of videos that share fellow educators’ character philosophy and how they implement a tangible and practical lesson to teach these philosophies to students. The class also features Jim Place, a nationally recognized character educator who presents his beliefs based upon being in education for over 50 years. The class is not only useful and gives clear examples to use in your classroom but is entertaining, filled with stories and anecdotes.